descantus - I'm so sorry to hear that your surgery has been postponed. I would have been gutted too. You guys saw how upset I was over having a cold. It's hard having the letdown then having to let your emotions build again. I originally had a date of Feb 22, till the surgeon saw that I needed both jaws done and I was re-scheduled for 12 weeks later. That was a LONG 12 weeks.
cvn - I find gravol helps me to sleep. The only sucky thing about sleeping is the drymouth and not being able to get rid of that dry mouth taste.
bb - how I wish I had percocet. I'm not brave at all. I just have no choice. He won't prescribe anything else. I don't really have a high pain tolerance so I always need more pain medication than they want to initially give me.
So, my dad just got here. I'm gonna visit for a bit before I have to take another nap.
April 2010 Buddies
Moderator: bbsadmin
Good morning everyone.
descantus - I hope you'll stay with our group, even though technically you will be one day into May. We were supposed to have some friends of my husband's from the UK staying with us this month (until I got my surgery date). Glad they are not here right now since they probably wouldn't be able to get back home.
How is everyone doing?
cvn - can you swallow properly yet? Are you sleeping?
nineeyes - do you find with the loose bands on that your mouth falls open as you sleep? Mine does and it hurts like a bugger. It wakes me up with a jolt.
So, I've reached a state where the positive attitude has taken over and the feeling sorry for myself has diminished quite a bit. I'm over the sickness and inability to keep anything down. Have not done that well with eating a lot, but am drinking a bunch of juice and then have 3 really small "meals". Have lost 10 pounds as of this morning, which while that sounds great as I'm overweight and have much more to lose, it's left me feeling kind of weak and low energy. So, I've decided to try to get as much nutrition in as I can, even if I don't always feel like eating.
Had my first post-op appointment yesterday. Dr. Young is happy that the stomache upset went away after he took me off the antibiotics. He said everything is looking good. Stitches are dissolving already. He gave me a bag of elastics so that I can take them off when I eat and brush my teeth, even though I can't really open my mouth that far. That was pretty much it. He said we'd get x-rays next week on Wednesday and as usual, I can see him any time I want if I need him. He's a very caring doctor and is good at what he does - with the exception of understanding pain management. I am not sleeping well now as I wake up with throbbing and aching pain, which the tylenol 1 liquid is not handling. Unfortunately there's no point in asking him for something stronger because he just does not get it.
Yesterday, I felt a yawn coming on, so tried to stop it and felt a jolt of pain in the right side of my jaw. Yowzers. That's also how I feel when I wake up in the night when my mouth has dropped open.
At the moment I can feel most of my face except for my nose, my chin and I have "some" feeling in my lips, but not completely. So, the parts of my face that don't hurt feel like plastic. LOL. It's rather bizarre. I think it gets better every day though. Trying to smile I feel like the Joker from Batman. I'm sure I look ridiculous. This morning I was drinking my shake and I had it all over my chin. I'm sure it was pretty sexy.
Hope everyone is doing well.
BB, love that you post here for us. I remember looking at the picture of your blended fries and gravy and thinking yuck, I don't think I could go for that. Oh, how things have changed.......
Descantus - please stay with our group
descantus - I hope you'll stay with our group, even though technically you will be one day into May. We were supposed to have some friends of my husband's from the UK staying with us this month (until I got my surgery date). Glad they are not here right now since they probably wouldn't be able to get back home.
How is everyone doing?
cvn - can you swallow properly yet? Are you sleeping?
nineeyes - do you find with the loose bands on that your mouth falls open as you sleep? Mine does and it hurts like a bugger. It wakes me up with a jolt.
So, I've reached a state where the positive attitude has taken over and the feeling sorry for myself has diminished quite a bit. I'm over the sickness and inability to keep anything down. Have not done that well with eating a lot, but am drinking a bunch of juice and then have 3 really small "meals". Have lost 10 pounds as of this morning, which while that sounds great as I'm overweight and have much more to lose, it's left me feeling kind of weak and low energy. So, I've decided to try to get as much nutrition in as I can, even if I don't always feel like eating.
Had my first post-op appointment yesterday. Dr. Young is happy that the stomache upset went away after he took me off the antibiotics. He said everything is looking good. Stitches are dissolving already. He gave me a bag of elastics so that I can take them off when I eat and brush my teeth, even though I can't really open my mouth that far. That was pretty much it. He said we'd get x-rays next week on Wednesday and as usual, I can see him any time I want if I need him. He's a very caring doctor and is good at what he does - with the exception of understanding pain management. I am not sleeping well now as I wake up with throbbing and aching pain, which the tylenol 1 liquid is not handling. Unfortunately there's no point in asking him for something stronger because he just does not get it.
Yesterday, I felt a yawn coming on, so tried to stop it and felt a jolt of pain in the right side of my jaw. Yowzers. That's also how I feel when I wake up in the night when my mouth has dropped open.
At the moment I can feel most of my face except for my nose, my chin and I have "some" feeling in my lips, but not completely. So, the parts of my face that don't hurt feel like plastic. LOL. It's rather bizarre. I think it gets better every day though. Trying to smile I feel like the Joker from Batman. I'm sure I look ridiculous. This morning I was drinking my shake and I had it all over my chin. I'm sure it was pretty sexy.
Hope everyone is doing well.
BB, love that you post here for us. I remember looking at the picture of your blended fries and gravy and thinking yuck, I don't think I could go for that. Oh, how things have changed.......
Descantus - please stay with our group
Hi Audra,
Thanks! I'm definitely still part of Team April, and will still be following everyone on here and sharing my experiences! Anyway i'm glad to hear you're now on your uppers - an emotional crash landing is inevitable after such a big build up to surgery. Have to say the amount of feeling you've gained back already is impressive so you surgeon has done something right. As for the pain maybe you could have a word with your local pharmacist to see if he could recommend a good over the counter drug?
CVN - hope the recovery's coming on nicely, also interested to know how the swallowing/sleeping going...
Thanks! I'm definitely still part of Team April, and will still be following everyone on here and sharing my experiences! Anyway i'm glad to hear you're now on your uppers - an emotional crash landing is inevitable after such a big build up to surgery. Have to say the amount of feeling you've gained back already is impressive so you surgeon has done something right. As for the pain maybe you could have a word with your local pharmacist to see if he could recommend a good over the counter drug?
CVN - hope the recovery's coming on nicely, also interested to know how the swallowing/sleeping going...
Hey Audra, good to hear you are doing better.
The bands themselves seem to hold my jaws close enough that its pretty comfortable if I were to just let it hang there. But I was wired shut at when I was where you are, so I'm sure it would still ache a good amount if they let me open up then.
I can get open my mouth about 1.25" now (around 2.5 finger widths for me). I'm not sure if I'm supposed to yet (as I wasn't given any direction to), but I stretch out my lower jaw all day. There is a bit of clicking, but no pain.
Most annoying part still is the splint. It pushes out on my lips and obstructs my tongue. I can't wait until that gets removed.
Glad you are sticking with us descantus.
The bands themselves seem to hold my jaws close enough that its pretty comfortable if I were to just let it hang there. But I was wired shut at when I was where you are, so I'm sure it would still ache a good amount if they let me open up then.
I can get open my mouth about 1.25" now (around 2.5 finger widths for me). I'm not sure if I'm supposed to yet (as I wasn't given any direction to), but I stretch out my lower jaw all day. There is a bit of clicking, but no pain.
Most annoying part still is the splint. It pushes out on my lips and obstructs my tongue. I can't wait until that gets removed.
Glad you are sticking with us descantus.
I'm doing alright. The swelling is slowly going down and my Angelina lips x 100 are down to about Angelina lips x 25. I'm swallowing ok and the knock out pill is working pretty well. Only things really bothering me still are the gross congestion and oh god the non stop drooling. Can't wait for that to end. Mom keeps trying to drag my drooley ass out on walks and it's just like "seriously? I need a drool bucket like in that old snl skit." in the great scheme of things I'm doing fine though. I'm a bit skinnier and can't wait to brush my teeth next Tuesday, and hopefully the drooling will be over by then.
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joeniceteeth1
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2009 10:26 am
Surgery, banding, eating, and pain
I am 1 day post op lower jaw surgery. To tell you the truth I expected much worse. I am not in much pain, but very uncomfortable and becoming more swollen, and have a huge headache. I have been given liquid codene. But only one refill? This will only last me 1 or 2 days. I don't find it very helpful. What did you do to deal with the pain? Should I be buying anything else?
Good news is that I think I can already see positive results.
If any others can help me out with a few of my concerns it will be much appreciated.
What day is my swelling and pain at the max? Are the first 4 days the toughest?
If anyone has any advice it would be
I have an appt one week to have my splint and bands taken off and new looser bands put on. The bands right now suck. Feels like there is so much pressure on my jaws. How long will I be banded? So far I seem to be restricted to a liquid based diet because the bands are so tight. Can anyone give me a heads up on what I am going to experience diet / banding wise and for how long?
If anyone can help me it would be very much appreciated! So far better than expected. I was up walking around the night of my surgery.
Good news is that I think I can already see positive results.
If any others can help me out with a few of my concerns it will be much appreciated.
What day is my swelling and pain at the max? Are the first 4 days the toughest?
If anyone has any advice it would be
I have an appt one week to have my splint and bands taken off and new looser bands put on. The bands right now suck. Feels like there is so much pressure on my jaws. How long will I be banded? So far I seem to be restricted to a liquid based diet because the bands are so tight. Can anyone give me a heads up on what I am going to experience diet / banding wise and for how long?
If anyone can help me it would be very much appreciated! So far better than expected. I was up walking around the night of my surgery.
hi audra had my surgery wednesday [lower jaw] pretty roough for last few days.feelin better today doc had me puttin my elastics on myself on thursday wow what pain. wouldnt let me out of hosp if i couldnt manage it.got out on fri. does anyone else feel extreme stinging in lips when trying to put elastics in. ive been given voltarol and paracetamol for pain a bit rough on stomach since im not eating properly soups and shakes only.seein dr tomorrow maybe get some protein drinks off him. my swelling seems to have been controlled by having two drains fitted during surgery and i havent had any bruising yet four days after op lost a few pounds but nothing to dramatic does anyone know how long the splint stays in and how long does using the elastics go on for
joeniceteeth1 - I only got codeine too - and toradol, which is non-narcotic anti-inflammatory that is good for dental and bone pain. It helps along with the tylenol w/codeine syrup. It was not enough for me in the beginning, but I had no choice but to deal with it. Ice packs help. I like a cool facecloth on my face. It helps me to go to sleep. I found the first 4 days the roughest and then the swelling started to subside. I am still very swollen, but it's getting better and I'm starting to be able to see my old face under there. As far as your other questions, only your surgeon can tell you how long you'll be banded and on a liquid diet as each surgeon does things differently.
dez - nice to see you back. I have a lot of stinging in my lips - all the time. I think it's because they are not totally numb. I have to take my elastics out and put them back in myself as well. The one on the left side is harder and sometimes it snaps and boy, that hurts A LOT since I have stitches under my top lip. Once you start to eat more your stomache will probably be less upset. I find gravol works well. When I couldn't keep the oral gravol down I had my hubby buy me some gravol suppositories. Once the nausea stopped, I could definitely eat more. AS for your splint and elastics, only your surgeon can tell you when they'll come off.
Descantus - still with us? Only 6 days to go!!!
I'm feeling better each day. I can feel all my stitches now and they are sore. Face feels less foreign though. Except for my mouth, because I can't close my lips due to all the swelling. I can't kiss my hubby very well either and it's a bit frustrating. Still pretty tired so I sleep a lot. Am getting used to blenderized food. Had banana cream pie for dessert at lunch. It blended up nicely. Yum. Tonight am going to try a butter chicken curry in the blender. Dunno whether to add rice or not. Probably a bit. We'll see how it goes. Hubby is opting to have shakes with me quite often because it's just easier. He doesn't care as long as there is food in his tummy. So, I have one more week off. Not sure if that will be enough. I may have to take another week unpaid. We'll see how this week goes.
dez - nice to see you back. I have a lot of stinging in my lips - all the time. I think it's because they are not totally numb. I have to take my elastics out and put them back in myself as well. The one on the left side is harder and sometimes it snaps and boy, that hurts A LOT since I have stitches under my top lip. Once you start to eat more your stomache will probably be less upset. I find gravol works well. When I couldn't keep the oral gravol down I had my hubby buy me some gravol suppositories. Once the nausea stopped, I could definitely eat more. AS for your splint and elastics, only your surgeon can tell you when they'll come off.
Descantus - still with us? Only 6 days to go!!!
I'm feeling better each day. I can feel all my stitches now and they are sore. Face feels less foreign though. Except for my mouth, because I can't close my lips due to all the swelling. I can't kiss my hubby very well either and it's a bit frustrating. Still pretty tired so I sleep a lot. Am getting used to blenderized food. Had banana cream pie for dessert at lunch. It blended up nicely. Yum. Tonight am going to try a butter chicken curry in the blender. Dunno whether to add rice or not. Probably a bit. We'll see how it goes. Hubby is opting to have shakes with me quite often because it's just easier. He doesn't care as long as there is food in his tummy. So, I have one more week off. Not sure if that will be enough. I may have to take another week unpaid. We'll see how this week goes.